The seven-time world champion hasn\u2019t finished on the podium since the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, when he was still at Mercedes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hamilton has finished fourth on several occasions for Ferrari, but his first rostrum appearance of the year has continued to elude him.<\/p>\n While Ferrari have had their troubles, Charles Leclerc<\/a> has finished on the podium five times – only the McLaren drivers have more top-three finishes this year.<\/p>\n This weekend\u2019s Hungarian Grand Prix should pose Hamilton\u2019s best chance yet.<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton<\/p>\n The Hungaroring is undoubtedly one of Hamilton\u2019s strongest tracks.<\/p>\n He\u2019s won the race on eight occasions, and his most recent F1 pole was at the 2023 Hungarian GP.<\/p>\n Prior to his error-filled weekend at Spa, Hamilton had looked more comfortable behind the wheel of the SF-25.<\/p>\n He had out-qualified Leclerc in three of the previous four races heading into Belgium.<\/p>\n Hamilton\u2019s race pace, relative to Leclerc, remains a question mark – but given the difficulties in overtaking, Saturday will be even more important.<\/p>\n F1 title battle<\/p>\n The momentum in the 2025 F1 title race took another twist after Oscar Piastri<\/a> returned to winning ways at Spa.<\/p>\n Lando Norris <\/a>had won the previous two races, and after snatching pole away from Piastri, looked likely to make it a hat-trick of wins.<\/p>\n A poor exit from La Source, combined with a battery issue, left Norris vulnerable on the first lap of racing after the 80-minute delay.<\/p>\n By his own admission, Piastri took \u201crisks\u201d to get ahead of Norris.<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri<\/p>\n The Australian remained typically cool at the front of the field, demonstrating impressive tyre management to come away with his sixth victory of the year.<\/p>\n Piastri returns to the scene of his first F1 victory.<\/p>\n The Australian led the race but fell behind Norris, as McLaren prioritised the latter to avoid being undercut by Hamilton behind.<\/p>\n This led to a remarkable set of circumstances where McLaren had to effectively beg Norris to let Piastri through.<\/p>\n Norris would ultimately oblige – but was keen to prove a point first, opening up a five-second lead over his team-mate.<\/p>\n A win for Piastri this weekend would effectively give him a race-win gap over Norris.<\/p>\n Will Mercedes\u2019 struggles continue?<\/p>\n![\"Lewis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/xpb_1362769_hires.jpg\")
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![\"Yuki](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/xpb_1363060_hires.jpg\")
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